ARM, Unicef Launch 'Wearables for Good' Challenge

The new program aims to serve children in developing countries with cost-effective, useful tech solutions.

ARM is teaming up with Unicef and design strategy firm Frog to create purpose-built, health- and education-focused wearables for distribution in developing nations and emerging markets.

To kick off a multi-year partnership to "accelerate the development of new technologies to overcome the barriers that prevent millions of families from accessing basic health, education and support services," ARM and Unicef are hosting a global design challenge called "Wearables for Good."

The challenge will run over six months, with ARM, Unicef, and contest partner Frog asking "developers, designers, community partners, and problem-solvers to design a wearable device that offers a cost-effective, efficient, and sustainable solution to pressing maternal, newborn, or child health problems," the partners said.

Two contest winners will see their designs built and distributed by Unicef, using ARM-based computer hardware. The submission period began on May 19 and will run through Aug. 4, with the winners announced on Nov. 2.

Finalists in the Wearables for Good challenge will receive coaching from Frog in the run-up to the final submission and judging period.

"Technology should be used to create opportunity for all; improving child health, education and prospects, and access to it should not be governed by economic status or geography," said ARM CEO Simon Segars."We have spent 25 years enabling life-changing technologies and together with Unicef's innovation experts we believe this partnership can deliver a positive social impact for children all-around the world."

Going forward, ARM plans to partner with Unicef to conduct research into technology solutions and market opportunities for wearables and other Internet of Things (IoT) solutions serving communities and nations around the globe. Erica Kochi, co-lead of Unicef Innovation, said at a press briefing on Thursday that a key to this program will be to work with local users of tech solutions rather than creating products outside of those communities and "air-dropping" them in.

"We need to innovate with social purpose in order to overcome the barriers of time, distance and lack of information that prevent millions of children from surviving and realizing their potential," Kochi said. "By working together with ARM we improve our ability to develop new technologies that impact children and help them grow up healthy, educated and able to positively contribute to their families, communities and wider economies."